Live Updates: Zimbabwe 2018 national budget presentation

NewsDay will give you the full updates of the budget presentation

15:21 A number of public officials continue to be engaged in the public service well beyond their retirement age. In this regard, from January 2018 Government will, through the Service Commissions, retire staff above the age of 65.

15:16 Money creation, through domestic money market instruments which do not match with available foreign currency, only serves to weaken the value of the same instruments, translating into rapid build-up in inflationary pressures, to the detriment of financial and macro-economic stability.

15:16 The mis-match between the supply and demand for foreign exchange, has also led to the emergence of foreign exchange premiums in the market.

15:12 Chinamasa highlighted that dealing with corruption in the economy was paramount. Re-engaging of the international community and having a free and fair election in 2018 will help Zimbabwe grow.

15:09 The governemt should increase the use of plastic money in rural ares traders must accept mobile money. Exports will be critical in dealing with the ongoing problem of cash shortages.

15:07 Inflation in 2018 is expected to average 3 percent.

15:05 “Our economy has not been performing to its potential and to the expectations of the citizenry, as demonstrated by low production and export levels, and the resultant prevailing high levels of unemployment, and a continuing deterioration in macro-economic stability”

15:00 Chinamasa now presenting the 2018 national budget

In retrospect:

In his 2017 national budget presentation, pegged at US$4 billion, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa pledged to cut government expenditure, with the following highlights:

Economy to grow by 1,7% in 2017

Revenue of US$2,876 billion collected between January and October 2016 against a target of US$3,158 billion, a negative variance of 9,8%

Cumulative expenditure for January to October 2016 amounts to US$3,84 billion against a target of 3,32 billion, representing US$520 million overspend.

Employment costs to gobble 91% of revenue

Exports decline by 6,9% to US$3,365 billion

Import bill stands at US$5,35 billion against exports of US$3,365billion

A total of US$17 million of bond notes injected into the banking system

Freeze in prices and fees charged by public entities

Five cents health levy for every dollar spent on airtime and data

Resuscitation of Ziscosteel on the cards

Agriculture, which experienced a 3,7% decline in 2016, expected to grow by 12% in 2017

Mining sector seen growing by 0,9% in 2017

Manufacturing sector seen growing by 0,3%

15% platinum tax reprieve extended to 2017

Growth rate of between 0,3 to 3% anticipated in other sectors in 2017

Capital inflows of US$692,4 million expected in 2016 against US$1,2 billion in 2015

Formal remittances fall to US$780 million in 2016 from US$935 million in 2015

Stock market turnover between January and October 2016 slumps by 29% to US$144,46 million.

Primary and secondary education ministry gets highest vote of US$800,3 million followed by Home Affairs allocated US$364 million

Defence ministry allocated US$340,5 million while health and agriculture sectors receive US$208 million and US$244 million respectively.

Wheat flour, luggage ware and school uniforms removed from the open import licence with effect from January 1 201

Meanwhile, on his inauguration speech last month, Zimbabwe’s new president Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged his government would engage the international community as he seeks to revive a collapsed economy after years of corruption and mismanagement.

As Chinamasa presents his budget today, it remains to be seen how government coffers were spent, and what the future looks like for Zimbabwe.